[JURIST] French President Jacques Chirac [official profile] announced Wednesday that he will seek to overturn a controversial law regarding the teaching of France's colonial history. The law [text in French; Guardian report], approved in February 2005, requires French history teachers to stress "the positive role of the French colonialism, especially in North Africa". Chirac claims the law is dividing French people and instead should be rewritten with words to bring people together. More than 44,000 people have also signed a petition rejecting the colonial history law. The law has also caused tension with Algeria [JURIST news archive] with whom France [JURIST news archive] is working on a reconciliation treaty [JURIST report]. BBC News has more. Le Monde has local coverage.